Monday, August 26, 2013

View from the Empty Nest




View from the Empty Nest








The time has finally arrived.  All our children have been kicked out of the nest and appear to be finding their wings.  I am ready at any moment to swoop down and save them if need be, although the swoop to Texas may take a bit.  As I look into God's Word I find 4 tests of whether I have truly prepared my eaglets to fly into the real world.  From Psalm 78

1. Do they know God's Word? I mean know it as a part of their everyday life.  Does it pop up in conversation? (v. 1-6)
2. Have I told my children about the greatness of our God?  Have we experienced God moments together? (v. 4)
3. Have my children put their trust in God for everyday life? (v.7)
4. Has God become so much a part of their lives they do not forget who He is and what He has done and is doing for them resulting in lives following Him? (v. 7)

I am grateful my children's wings seem fixed straight at this time, and I pray they will continue to fly strong through the storms of life.  I recently journaled what I have often thought over the years.

I pray this journey Gale and I are on would be a faith strengthener for our children.  I pray when we all look back we will see Your hand, our children will trust in You, and in turn will tell their children.

From the empty nest I keep one eye on my children and the other on the Lord trusting Him.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Stop Crying and Start Partying!


Stop Crying and Start Partying!

It was gloomy this morning here in Berrien Springs-lots of clouds hanging over our heads!  But I love Joy!  Joy is essential to get us through life. Nehemiah told God's people who had been sorrowful because of their sin to stop crying and start partying, for "the joy of the Lord is your strength!" (Nehemiah 8:10)  Let me be clear.  Repenting needs to be part of our lifestyle.  But rejoicing follows closely on the heels of repentance.  Could it be we lack joy, because we lack repentance?

This morning as I read Psalm 97 I was challenged to think about what I'm doing to cultivate joy.  Psalm 97:11 read,  "Light is sown for the righteous and joy for the upright in heart."  This passage reminds me God is the one who plants joy in my heart, but I must make sure to cultivate and fertilize that joy.

What cultivates joy in my heart?  Here are some suggestions which help me:

Gratitude (Philippians 4:4-6)
Gazing into the face of God (Psalm 4:6,7)
Surrendering to the Spirit of God (Galatians 5:22)
Trusting God with my trials (Romans 15:13)
Praying and seeing God's hand at work (Philippians 4:4-6; John 16:24)
Following God's path (John 15:9-11)
An eternal perspective (James 1:2, Hebrews 12:2)
Friends (Philippians 4:1 and many more verses)
Family (Proverbs 15:20)

Are you cultivating the joy God has placed in your heart today or are you cultivating gloom?  The weather here is gloomy so I need to intentionally cultivate joy!

What else cultivates joy in your heart?